Simulated fireplace



May 10, 1955 J. L. HANCOCK SIMULATED FIREPLACE 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed May 19, 1954 gal y 0, 1955 J. L. HANCOCK 2,708,114

SIMULATED FIREPLACE Filed May 19, 1954 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 4 INVENTOR. z/a/m ,5, 17mm 46K 2,793,114 Patented May 10, 1955 lice SIMULATED FIREPLACE John L. Hancock, Chicago, llL, assignor to Master-matters Clock & Radio Company, Chicago, Ill., a corporation of Illinois Application hfiay 19, 1%54, Serial No. 439,318

9 Claims. (ill. 272-8) This invention relates to certain new and useful improvements in a simulated fireplace.

Among the salient objects of this invention is the provision of a clock having an arrangement for producing an illusionary effect in simulation of a fire in a fireplace.

Another object of the invention contemplates an arrangement for producing a simulation of smoke, flames and burning embers by an arrangement which is simple in construction, economical in manufacture, simple in operation, and, when adapted to an article of manufaclure such as a clock or the like, will add to its attractive ness and eye appeal by producing the realistic effect of a natural fire in a fireplace.

Other objects will appear hereinafter.

The invention consists in the novel combination and arrangement of parts to be hereinafter described and claimed.

The invention will be best understood by reference to the accompanying drawings showing the preferred form of construction, and in which:

Fig. 1 is a perspective view of the invention;

Fig. 2 is a rear view of the clock illustrated in Fig. 1, with the back plate or wall removed;

Fig. 3 is a fragmentary sectional detail view taken substantially on line 3- 3 of Fig. 2;

Fig. 4 is a perspective view of a plate embodied in my invention;

Fig. 5 is a perspective view of a simulated brick wall embodied in my invention;

Fig. 6 is a fragmentary perspective view of a lightreflecting drum embodied in the invention;

Fig. 7 is a fragmentary sectional detail view taken substantially on line 7-7 of Fig. 3.

The several objects of my invention are accomplished by the preferred form of construction shown in the accompanying drawings.

In these drawings I have illustrated a clock it) preferably of the electric type driven by a suitable motor 11 of any approved standard construction. This clock it in the form shown in the drawings includes a base portion 12 from which extends upwardly a head 13 having a standard clock dial 14 over the face of which are moved the hands 15 driven by the motor 11 and a train of gears 16. The front wall 17 of the base portion 12 provides an opening 18 from the lower end portion of which extends a hearth 19 having an ornamental rail 2d. This opening 18 constitutes the opening of the simulated fireplace which includes an opaque wall 21 which is dressed to simulate brick work. This wall 21 is mounted within the base 12 and includes side flanges 22 perforated as at 23 for the passage of studs 24 formed integral with the base 12 and having head portions 25' which prevent displacement of the wall 21 from its mounting on the studs 24 to the rear of the opening 18.

Forwardly of this simulated brick wall 21 is a closure plate 26 having notches 27 formed in certain of its edge portions to receive the locating studs 28 provided by the base 12 and held thereon by adjacent portions of the plate 21.

Carried by this plate 26 and extending from the front surface thereof is a simulated log 29. The plate 26 adjacent the long edges of the log 29 has a colored area 30 parts of which, as indicated at 31, are black tint, while other parts, such as indicated at 32, are an orange tint to give the illusion of burning embers on the log surface. Immediately adjacent this colored area, the plate 26 is provided with tongues 33 of irregular shape of clear transparency to give the illusion of tongues of flame as the light from a rotating light-reflecting drum hereinafter described is reflected from the plate 26.

Extending from the upper edge portion of the colored area 3f), the plate 26 has a clouded or frosted area 34 which when illuminated gives the illusion of smoke. The remaining portions of the plate 26 are preferably transparent to a degree such as permits the eye to observe through such area the brick wall 21 therebehind.

The simulated brick wall 21 is opaque so as to block out any light from the rear thereof. At its lower or bottom portion, the wall 21 provides an opening 35, the upper edge 36 of which is irregularly serrated to give a more natural effect to the simulated burning log as light rays of various colors are reflected from the drum hereinafter described through this opening upon the plate 26.

To the rear of the wall 21 is a mounting plate 37 secured as at 38 to a mounting bracket 39 of the motor 11, which motor 11 is in turn secured as at 4! to the inside surface of the dial 14-. The shaft of the motor is indicated at This shaft carries a worm gear 42 which operatively meshes with a gear 43. This gear 43 is mounted on one end portion of a shaft 44 journaled in bearings 45 and 46, the bearing 45 being carried by the mounting bracket 39 and the bearing 46 being carried by the plate 37.

lournalled in the lugs 47 struck laterally from the plate 37 is a shaft 43 fixedly carrying a drum 49 for rotation therewith about a horizontal axis. The shaft .8 is operatively connected through gears 5i to the shaft 44. The drum 49 has a cylindrical wall 51, the medial portion of which is irregularly undulated as at 52 to provide adjacent depressions extending cylindrically about the wall 51. The outer edge portions 53 of the drum 49 are tinted solid black. The irregular undulated portions or depressions 52 are of highly metallic coloring from a red tint to orange to yellow. The depressions 52 are separated from the black portions by circumferential highly light-reflective blue-tinted borders 5 The drum 49, while mounted to the rear of the mounting plate 37, partially projects through an opening 55 formed in the plate 37 as well as partially through the opening 35 to the rear of the simulated log 29. Such drum is rotated in an anticlockwise direction as viewed in Fig. 3. By so doing, as the depressions S2 bisect the light rays from the light source hereinafter referred to, there will be presented upon the frosted area 34 the simulation of rising smoke. Likewise the tongues of flame 33 will appear animated.

Mounted on the plate 37 a predetermined distance above the drum 49 is a source of light in the form of an in candescent lamp 56, the light rays of which are picked up by the colored depressions 52 of the drum 49 reflected upon the rear surface of the plate 26, with the result that as the drum 5-? is rotated, a realistic appearance of a burning log is produced, including fiery embers, flickering flame tongues, and smoke. As the drum 49 rotates, the various colors thereon are reflected upon the plate 26, giving the effect of a constantly changing fire.

By this arrangement, I have provided an arrangement for producing the illusionary effect of a natural log-burning fireplace. This is accomplished by an arrangement requiring a minimum of parts, with the result that economy of production may be had.

While I have illustrated a preferred form of design of an electric clock, it is to be understood that i may not be limited to any particular design. The object of the invention, as before stated, is to provide an arrangement which presents to the eye of the observer a highly realistic simulation of a fire within a fireplace.

While I have illustrated and described the preferred form of construction for carrying my invention into effect, this is capable of variation and modification without departing from the spirit of the invention. 1, therefore, do not wish to be limited to the precise details of construction set forth, but desire to avail myself of such variations and modifications as come within the scope of the appended claims.

Having thus described my invention, what i claim a; new and desire to protect by Letters Patent is:

1. An apparatus for roducing a realistic simulation of a fi e in a fireplace comprising an opaque wall having an opening in the lower portion thereof of irregular out line, a plate forwardly of said wall and having a por tion tinted in different colors simulate burning embers, said plate also having a frosted portion above said tinted portion to simulate smoke, s-id plate having transparent sections intercepting said frosted portion above the tinted portion, of irregular shape to simulate tongues of flame leading from said simulated embers, the remaining portion of said plate being trans; arent, il i "ninat means to the rear of said wall and above said opening, a drum to the rear of said wall with a portion thereof extending through said opening rearwardly of said simulated en hers, said drum having irregular depressions in its medial cylindrical surface of different color characteristics and of highly light-reflective material, means for supporting said drum for rotation about a horizontal axis, and means for rotating said drum in a direction to move the surface thereof upwardly and rearwardly with respect to said wall to bisect the light rays from said illuminating means by said depressions for reflection thereby upon the rear surface of said plate.

2. An apparatus for producing a realistic simulation of a fire in a fireplace comprising an opaque wall dressed to simulate a brick wall having opening in the lower portion thereof of irregular outline, a plate forwardly of said wall and having a portion tinted in different colors to simulate burning embers, said plate also having a frosted portion above said tinted portion to simulate smoke, said plate having transparent sections intercepting said frosted portion above the tinted portion, of irregular shape to simulate tongues of leading from said simulated embers, the remaining portion of said plate being transparent, illuminating means to the rear of said wall and above said opening, a drum to the rear of said wall with a portion thereof extending through said opening rearwardly of said simulated embers, said drum having irregular depressions in its medial cylindrical surface of different color characteristics and of highly light-reflective material merging from red to orange to yellow in a circumferential direction and with the peripheral cylindrical surfaces of said drum of a non-reflective color, means for supporting said drum for rotation about a horizontal axis, and means for rotating said drum in a direction to move the surface thereof upwardly and rearwardly with respect to said well to bisect the light rays from said illuminating means by said depressions for reflection thereby upon the rear surface of said plate.

3. An apparatus for producing a realistic simulation of a fire in a fireplace comprising opaque wall having an opening in the lower portion thereof of irregular outline, a plate forwardly of said wall and having a portion tinted in different colors to simulate burning embers, said plate also having a frosted portion above said tinted portion to simulate smoke, and plate having transparent sections intercepting said frosted portion above the tinted portion, of irregular shape to simulate tongues of flame leading from said simulated embers, the remaining portion of said plate being transparent, illuminating means to the rear of said wall and above said opening, a drum to the rear of said wall with a portion thereof extending through said opening rearwardly of said simulated embers, said drum having irregular depressions in its medial cylindrical surface of different color characteristics and of highly light-reflective material mer ing from red to orange to yellow a circumferential direction and to a highly light-reflective blue tint on the outer circumferential edges thereof and with the peripheral cylindrical surfaces of said drum of a non-reflective color, means for supporting said drum for rotation about a horizontal axis, and means for rotating said drum in a direction to move the surface thereof upwardly and rearwardly with respect to said wall to bisect the light rays from said illuminating means by said depressions for reflection thereby upon the rear surface of said plate.

4. An apparatus for producing a realistic simulation of a fire in a fireplace comprising an opaque Wall dressed to simulate a brick wall and having an opening in the lower portion thereof of irregular outline, a plate forwardly of said wall and having a portion tinted in different colors to simulate burning embers, said plate also having a frosted portion above said tinted portion to simulate smoke, said plate having transparent sections intercepting said frosted portion above the tinted portion, of irregular shape to simulate tongues of flame leading from said simulated embers, the remaining portion of said plate being transparent, illuminating means to the rear of said wall and above said opening, a drum to the rear of said wall with a portion thereof extending through said opening rearwardly of said simulated embers, said drum having irregular depressions in its medial cylindrical surface of different color characteristics and of highly light-reflective material merging from red to orange to yellow in a circumferential direction and to a highly light-reflective blue tint on the outer circumferential edges thereof and with the peripheral cylindrical surfaces of said drum of a non-reflective color, means for supporting said drum for rotation about a horizontal axis, and means for rotating said drum in a direction to move the surface thereof upwardly and rearwardly with respect to said well to bisect the light rays from said illuminating means by said depressions for reflection thereby upon the rear surface of said plate.

5. An apparatus for producing a realistic simulation of a fire in a fireplace comprising an opaque wall having an opening in the lower portion thereof of irregular outline, a plate forwardly of said wall and having a portion tinted in different colors to simulate burning embers, said plate also having a frosted portion above said tinted portion to simulate smoke, said plate having transparent sections intercepting said frosted portion above the tinted portion, of irregular shape to simulate tongues of flame leading from said simulated embers, the remaining portion of said plate being transparent, a light source to the rear of said wall and above said opening, a rotatable light reflector to the rear of said wall with a portion thereof extending through said opening rearwardly of said simulated embers, said light reflector having irregular depressions in its medial surface of different color characteristics and of highly light-reflective material, means for supporting said light reflector for rotation about a horizontal axis, and means for rotating said light reflector in a direction to move the surface thereof upwardly and rearwardly with respect to said wall to bisect the light rays from said light source by said depressions for reflection thereby upon the rear surface of said plate.

6. An apparatus for producing a realistic simulation of a fire in a fireplace comprising an opaque wall dr to simulate a brick wall and having an opening in the lower portion thereof of irregular outline, a plate forwardly of said wall and having a portion tinted in different colors to simulate burning embers, said plate also having a frosted portion above said tinted portion to simulate smoke, said plate having transparent sections intercepting said frosted portion above the tinted portion, of irregular shape to simulate tongues of flame leading from said simulated embers, the remaining portion of said plate being transparent, a light source to the rear of said wall and above said opening, a light reflector to the rear of said wall with a portion thereof extending through said opening rearwardly of said simulated embers, said light reflector having irregular depressions in its medial surface of different color characteristics and of highly light-reflective material merging from red to orange to yellow in a circumferential direction and with the peripheral circumferential surfaces of said light reflector of a non-reflective color, means for supporting said light reflector for rotation about a horizontal axis, and means for rotating said light reflector in a direction to move the surface thereof upwardly and rearwardly with respect to said wall to bisect the light rays from said light source by said depressions for reflection thereby upon the rear surface of said plate.

7. An apparatus for producing a realistic simulation of a fire in a fireplace comprising an opaque wall having an opening in the lower portion thereof of irregular outline, a plate forwardly of said wall and having a portion tinted in different colors to simulate burning embers, said plate also having a frosted portion above said tinted portion to simulate smoke, said plate having transparent sections intercepting said frosted portion above the tinted portion, of irregular shape to simulate tongues of flame leading from said simulated embers, the remaining portion of said plate being transparent, a light source to the rear of said wall and above said opening, a rotatable light reflector to the rear of said wall with a portion thereof extending through said opening rearwardly of said simulated members, said light reflector having irregular depressions in its medial surface of different color characteristics and of highly light-reflective material merging from red to orange to yellow in a circumferential direction and to a highly light-reflective blue tint on the outer circumferential edges thereof and with the peripheral circumferential surfaces of said light reflector of a nonreflective color, means for supporting said light reflector a for rotation about a horizontal axis, and means for rotating said light reflector in a direction to move the surface thereof upwardly and rearwardly with respect to said wall to bisect the light rays from said light source by said depressions for reflection thereby upon the rear surface of said plate.

8. An apparatus for producing a realistic simulation of a fire in a fireplace comprising an opaque wall dressed to simulate a brick wall and having an opening in the lower portion thereof of irregular outline, a plate forwardly of said wall and having a portion tinted in different colors to simulate burning embers, said plate also having a frosted portion above said tinted portion to simulate smoke, said plate having transparent sections intercepting said frosted portion above the tinted portion, of irregular shape to simulate tongues of flame leading from said simulated embers, the remaining portion of said plate being transparent, a light source to the rear of said wall and above said opening, a light reflector to the rear of said wall with a portion thereof extending through said opening rearwardly said simulated embers, said light reflector having irregular depressions in its medial surface of different color characteristics and of highly light-reflective material merging from red to orange to yellow in a circum ferential direction and to a highly ligh-reflective blue tint on the outer circumferential edges thereof and with the peripheral circumferential surfaces of said light reflector of a non-reflective color, means for supporting said light reflector for rotation about a horizontal axis, and means for rotating said light reflector in a direction to move the surface thereof upwardly and rearwardly with respect to said wall to bisect the light rays from said light source by said depressions for reflection thereby upon the rear surface of said plate.

9. A simulated fireplace clock having a hollow base portion the front wall of which provides an opening, a vertically extending opaque wall mounted within said base portion to the rear of said opening and having an opening in its lower portion of irregular outline and having the face thereof adjacent the opening of the front wall dressed to simulate brickwork, a relatively flat vertically extending plate mounted in the opening of said front wall forwardly of said opaque wall and in spaced relation with respect thereto, said flat plate having the upper portion thereof formed of transparent material and the lower portion thereof opposite the opening in said opaque wall formed of translucent material, a drum within said base portion to the rear of said opaque wall with a portion of said drum extending through the opening of said opaque wall, said drum having irregular depressions in its cylin drical surface of different color characteristics and of highly light-reflective material, means for supporting said drum for rotation about a horizontal axis, illuminating means to the rear of said opaque wall and above the opening thereof and said drum, and means rotating said drum in a direction to move the cylindrical surface thereof upwardly and rearwardly with respect to said opaque wall to bisect the light rays from said illuminating means by said depressions for reflection thereby through the opening of said opaque wall upon the translucent portion of said flat plate.

References Cited in the tile of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,443,919 LcVie Jan. 30, l923 2,634,244 Brooks July 20, l954 FOREIGN PATENTS 450,941 Great Britain 1936 

